String of events for Marcus Garvey Day

GARVEYISM, as part of a wider civics curriculum, is to be taught in schools effective this September.

The programme is to be launched by the Education Ministry at Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann's Bay today, the 125th anniversary of the birth of late National Hero Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr.

Civics was previously taught from grades seven to nine in all-age schools and at first form in high schools. It educates students about citizenship, the structure and function of government, the importance of national symbols and emblems, and other relevant information.

Prior to the curriculum launch, Garvey — who was born in St Ann in 1887 — will be honoured at the St Ann's Bay Parish Library. Claudia Carter, acting secretary/manager at the St Ann Parish Council, which passed a resolution for August 17 to be observed as Marcus Garvey Day each year, told JIS News that the prime minister and the ministers of education and youth & culture are expected to be in attendance at the mid-morning function.

"We will have a marching band, which will be led by the Island Special Constabulary Force... and all the uniform groups marching to Marcus Garvey High School along Main Street... where the programme continues," she said of the celebration.

The two events are part of a series of activites planned by central and local government as well as civic groups to mark Garvey's birthday and form part of the Ja50 Calendar of events. They include the laying of flowers at the monument dedicated to Garvey in National Heroes Park, the launch of a mobile museum by Liberty Hall, and the presentation of the keys to the city of Kingston to the hero's son Dr Julius Garvey.

Dr Garvey will be in the island from August 16 to 19 as a guest of Big Stone Records, the promotional group responsible for the 'Tribute to Marcus Garvey 2012' event. While here, he is expected to participate in some 23 events, according to chairman of Big Stone Records, Claude Sinclair.

"The first call will be on Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites, where an autographed copy of [Garvey's] philosophy will be handed over to him," he said.

Dr Garvey will be joined by Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna to offer a floral tribute to his father in National Heroes Park at 8:00 this morning. The is an official event on the Jamaica 50 Calendar.

Following that, Dr Garvey is expected to visit Liberty Hall on King Street in downtown Kingston, for the launch of the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Mobile Museum. A National Monument, Liberty Hall is home to the only museum in the world dedicated to the life and work of Marcus Garvey, Jamaica's first National Hero.

In an interview with JIS News, Director/Curator of Liberty Hall, Donna McFarlane, said the mobile museum will allow persons residing in rural or remote sections of the island access to information on Garvey.

"There are also some areas in Jamaica where they simply cannot afford to get a bus to come (to Liberty Hall) and we'd like to be able to take the museum to them," she said.

Also today, Dr Garvey will accept the Keys to the City of Kingston from the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation - which, like the St Ann council, moved a resolution that August 17 be observed annually as Marcus Garvey Day — on behalf of his father.

"We're doing this because Marcus Garvey was a councillor in the KSAC, he is a National Hero and one of those visionaries who has inspired a number of great leaders all over the world," mayor of Kingston, Councillor Angela Brown Burke said.

"It will be collected by his son, Dr Julius Garvey, and we will be doing that in a ceremony at Emancipation Park, beginning at 4:00 pm," the Mayor said.

Celebrations continue in Kingston tonight with a concert at the Eastern Peace Centre, 121 Windward Road, where a number of prominent artistes are expected to appear.

"Artistes such as Cat Coore...members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Band, the Kingston Drummers, performances by Capleton, Sizzla Kalonji... and of course, it will be hosted by the number one host of all time, Mutabaruka," said Sinclair.

Garvey was a political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, philosopher, black nationalist, and a passionate proponent of the pan-Africanist movement. He founded the United Negro Improvement Association and has inspired groups such as the Nation of Islam and Rastafari. He has also influenced artistes including Burning Spear, Culture and Bob Marley.

Garvey died in England on June 10, 1940 at the age of 52.

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